A nuclear expert has dismissed Vladimir Putin’s latest military boast as a ‘propaganda ploy’ to strike up fear of World War Three.
Putin issued a chilling warning to the West that Russia now has a new ‘unstoppable’ missile – the ‘Flying Chernobyl’.
The Russian president has announced a ‘successful’ secret test flight on October 21 of the Burevestnik doomsday winged rocket, which has an ‘unlimited range.’
But John Erath, senior policy director for the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation, said: ‘Russia has claimed to have tested its long-range Burevestnik cruise missile.
‘The ranges claimed by Russia at which this missile can operate have led to speculation that it may be nuclear powered, as did the presence of a radiation clean up crew following an unsuccessful test in 2017.
‘Regardless of the missile’s propulsion, this weapon provides no additional capability to Russia which already possesses ICBMs with global range.
‘The recent announcement is more likely a propaganda ploy to generate concern in the West about possible nuclear escalation should Russia’s war of aggression be opposed through continued military assistance to Ukraine.’
Putin spoke of the atomic missile as he visited a war command post, where he was given briefings on the Ukrainian frontline from Valery Gerasimov, Russia’s most senior general.
While he delivered his remarks, his forces staged an attack on sleeping civilians in Kyiv.
At least three were killed and nearly 30 were injured, including seven children.
Fires raged in the attacked high-rises as rescuers tried to save the residents.
These deadly strikes came after Putin’s envoy in the US, Kiril Dmitriev, sought to blame Ukrainian air defences for strikes on its own civilians.
Despite Donald Trump’s latest calls for peace, Putin also revealed that nuclear war drills have been carried out by his forces over the past week.
Putin boasted: ‘The modernity of our…nuclear deterrent forces, is at the highest level.
‘Well, it would probably be no exaggeration to say that it is at a higher level than all nuclear states.’
The new tests on a missile intended to fly for days at a time and able to counter all current Western defences have been revealed by Putin.
He said: ‘We’re talking about testing the Burevestnik nuclear-powered cruise missile with an unlimited range.
‘As far as I understand, the key objectives have now been achieved.’
Gerasimov, 70, said: ‘The missile [Flying Chernobyl] flew for several hours, covering a distance of 14,000 kilometers (8,700 miles).’
He also claimed that it was not the limit of the missile.
He continued: ‘The technical characteristics of the Burevestnik generally allow it to be used with guaranteed accuracy against highly protected targets at any distance.
‘Furthermore, during the flight, the missile performed all the prescribed vertical and horizontal manoeuvres, demonstrating its high capabilities for evading missile and air defence systems.’
Putin smirked as he said it flew for 15 hours and could have gone longer.
Plans for the Burevestnik were first announced seven years ago and the previous test in 2022 only lasted two minutes.
He claimed his scientists did what experts believed to be impossible in successfully producing the weapon.
The nickname ‘Flying Chernobyl’ relates to the 1986 nuclear power plant explosion, as the missile emits radioactive exhaust.
Its emissions are due to its unshielded or partially shielded reactor, which raises ecological and safety concerns.
During the meeting, he also claimed more than 10,000 Ukrainian troops are surrounded in separate frontline locations.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky denounced the new attacks.
He said: ‘Every strike by Russia is an attempt to cause as much damage as possible to ordinary life.
‘These are strikes on residential buildings, on our people, on children, on civilian infrastructure – these are the main targets for the Russians.
‘Thousands of strikes with various types of weapons – in just one week, Russia used almost 1,200 strike drones, more than 1,360 guided aerial bombs, and over 50 missiles of various types against Ukraine.’
Trump has said he will not waste time meeting Putin.
Instead, the US has put severe, wide-ranging oil sanctions on Russia, with reports saying more economic punishment is to come.
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